Meet Aaron

A few weeks ago, Aaron’s entire world was turned upside down.

“I ended up becoming a single parent because my son and his wife got busted in Peoria. I had to get my grandkids to keep them out the system, and by me being on fixed income, I had no transportation for them. I had nothing for them.”

After taking custody of his two grandsons, Aaron came out of retirement to support them. He didn't have a way to transport the boys around the city until he discovered MSV's Emergency Transportation Fund.

Faced with the possibility of losing his beloved grandsons, Aaron decided to take custody of the young boys, ages 7 and 12. He went from being retired and volunteering his time in the Marillac St. Vincent food pantry, to going back to work and becoming a parent all over again. Now his weeks involve taking the bus or train to court appointments, doctor’s visits, and daily commutes to and from school.

“I just try to keep them busy and keep their mind off what’s going on,” Aaron says, “If you don’t keep them busy, they’ll go crazy!” Aaron is among the 1.5 million Chicagoans who rely daily on the city’s public transportation system to get to where they need to go. The Marillac St. Vincent Emergency Transportation Fund helps people like Aaron through unplanned moments in life when just getting from point A to point B can be a struggle.

This #GivingTuesday, MSV is once again raising awareness and funding for emergency situations when the cost of transportation is a barrier for individuals experiencing hardship.

Please invest in your friends and neighbors, like Aaron, who come through the doors at Marillac St. Vincent. For as little as $2.25, the cost of a single CTA ride, you can have an impact. As Aaron puts it, “It makes a big difference in someone's life.”